Adjustable multi-sized garment closure

ABSTRACT

One multi-sized adjustable garment closure utilized in any wrap around type garment is capable of providing a wide range of clothing sizes that might be found in any average household. For instance, a teenager that wears a size 6 could wear a garment that utilizes the Multi-size garment closure for an outing. The next evening, her grandmother, incidentally a size 14, could wear the same garment with a slight adjustment of the Multi-size adjustable garment closure. It is also ideal for our weight conscious society because the closure is easily adjustable to fluctuations in weight.

CROSS REFERENCE

Provisional application No. 60/699358

I claimed © prior to Jul. 14, 2005 of the Adjustable Multi-size Garment Closure upon conception and I have been giving notice every since. I did not register this design in the LOC.

STATEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING

NA

HISTORY OR BACKGROUND BRIEF SUMMARY INVENTIVE CONCEPT AND IMPROVEMENT

I am an inventive sewing artist. I have a design patent on a child's outfit [U.S. Pat. No: U.S. D465,316 S] that is in most cases constructed from recycled high end garments. There are occasions that I have left over plackets due to imperfections in garments that have been chosen for recycling. Over the years I had a gnawing feeling that there was a good use for the plackets. Around two years ago I discovered a use for the usable existing plackets found in garments. Through experimentation I discovered that an existing placket from a shirt, skirt, dress or coat that incorporates buttons, or snaps, can be converted into an Adjustable Multi-size Garment Closure (AMGC).

I am referring to plackets that would go down the entire length of a garment. For instance, the front of a shirt, dress, skirt or coat. In some cases, plackets found on the back or sides of garments can also be used. I always choose high end clothing for this procedure because the construction and materials used are usually of better quality and the fabrics used are often on grain. Off grain plackets are discarded. I will do my best to explain how I do this procedure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Forgive me, my computer died. All of my pictures are unavailable. I am doing this ground work for my children and their children. My husband told me to send the original designs that I want the utility patent. The red skirt placed first in the Georgia National Fair. The funny little flirty thing can be used as a strapless shirt, ridiculously skimpy skirt or a swimsuit cover. The construction of the Adjustable Multi-size Garment Closure is easy for you to figure out. The little tabs on both samples are from shirt collars. In my claims you see references to all of these applications. Please just send me an office action, if necessary, so that I can get this Utility Patent underway. There are crude pictures available in my provisional patent No. 60/699358. They do not compare to the samples I am sending as far as an understanding of look and function is concerned. Your mercy in this situation is most appreciated.

Manner and Process of Making

You begin this project with an existing shirt, skirt, dress, or coat. Remember to make sure the buttonholes, buttons, or snaps, are of good quality or the end results will be unsatisfactory. Allow me to rephrase for those who are not accustomed to the world of recycling. You are beginning this project with an existing article of clothing. You are going to disassemble the garment in order to use the two corresponding sides of the placket. Although you can use scissors to obtain the two placket sides, I prefer, whenever possible to tear the fabric so that I can check to make sure that the garment was constructed on the straight of grain. [If the garment was not constructed on the straight of grain then the placket is discarded because it is of no value.] For this particular style of recycling existing clothing I use two methods of construction.

My work is professionally finished with secure seams that are anchored with backstitching. Although I implement many seam finishing techniques, I prefer French and flat fell seams using them appropriately to reduce fraying and bulk in every case. Concerning AMGC, method two is my favorite because it is kind of ‘silly’ looking and there is a chance for the wearer to smile because the technique of construction is so clever. I use both methods depending on the thickness of fabrics and overall construction of collar button area. Method 1 is better if I am working on thick fabric because it is generally less bulky

METHOD 1

A. You recall that you are to obtain the placket so that you can construct the garment closure. [If the fabric is of a light to medium density you should be able to tear the fabric in a straight line parallel with the two sides of the placket.] You will need to cut at the bottom end of the two corresponding sides of the placket one inch from the completed edge of the placket. With practice you will need less than one inch to complete the garment closure. But for the purpose of explaining the procedure I'll use one inch as a reference.

B. Completely unbutton the corresponding sides of the placket from step A.

C. Re-button the placket with the right sides together.

D. Sew the two corresponding sides together crosswise making sure that you sewed the end of the placket that was originally positioned at the bottom of the garment. Again, you were to sew it in such a way that your crosswise seam equaled about two inches of stitching. If you understood my meaning, you will have a length of placket that is twice as long as the original placket. In addition, when you open the placket up you will see that the functioning sides of the placket are at opposite ends of your long strip of placket. I prefer flat fell or French seams, which ever produce less bulk. By using these methods you will not have any fraying threads and your continuous placket will be neat.

E. Finish the other ends of the placket in any ordinary method that secures threads and keeps them from fraying. I sometimes find it easier to finish the other ends of the placket after it has been attached to the new garment.

F. You can attach the Multi-size adjustable garment closure to any skirt or strapless shirt that works in a wrap around fashion.

METHOD 2

A. You recall that you are to obtain the placket so that you can construct the garment closure. [If the fabric is of a light to medium density you should be able to tear the fabric in a straight line parallel with the two sides of the placket.] You will need to cut at the bottom end of the two corresponding sides of the placket one inch from the completed edge of the placket. With practice you will need less than one inch to complete the garment closure. But for the purpose of explaining the procedure I'll use one inch as a reference.

B. You should have a complete placket in your hand that is still buttoned together as it was before you removed it from the existing garment. This buttoned placket has been severed from the rest of the existing garment and it has one inch of seam allowance running parallel to the finished edges of both corresponding sides of the placket. Now you will begin to unbutton the placket starting with the bottom button. You will unbutton all the way up the placket until you reach the collar button. NOW STOP AT THE TOP BUTTON. This top button shall remain buttoned and you will turn or pivot the fabric of the placket using the thread or shank of the button as the method for turning. Let me rephrase, you will keep it buttoned and by using the existing SHANK (that is the thread that is found under the button) of the top button, you will be able to turn or pivot the buttonhole side of the placket and create one long band with the buttoned collar button in the middle of the newly constructed long garment closure. Secure the top button area with any kind of stitching. I used straight stitch on the sewing machine and anchored the stitching with a back stitch. Lay the elongated band closure out flat.

C. Trim both ends of the band closure leaving enough room to finish the edges.

D. Attach adjustable closure to any clothing article that will work in a wrap around fashion. Skirts and strapless shirts are very cute using methods one and two. 

1. A multi-size adjustable garment closure for use with a garment, the multi-size fastening system comprising: a placket having multiple opposite end fasteners with non fastening ends joined by means of a seam or other securing method to create a central region intermediate and interconnecting the multiple opposite end fastening regions; means for attaching seamed placket with multiple opposite end fasteners to said garment; a reinforced length of material having multiple opposite end fasteners with a central region intermediate and interconnecting to the multiple opposite end fastening regions; a reinforced length of fabric that has multiple opposite end fasteners that is secured to garment for multi-size adjustable fastening; means for attaching any reinforced length of material having multiple opposite end fasteners to said garment; means for multi-size adjustable fastening use in said garment; means for manipulating opposite end fasteners so that adjustments in size can be made by connecting multiple opposite ends; means for manipulating or adjusting opposite end fasteners using a placket or reinforced length of fabric having multiple opposite end fasteners that has been attached to garment;
 2. Claim 1 further including the use of buttonhole ends of garment collars to further secure female end of multiple opposite end fastener to a small button securely sewn on the male end of multiple opposite end Adjustable Multi-size Garment Closure.
 3. Claim 1 further including the adjustable multi-sized garment closure can adjust the size of said garment according to the number of multiple opposite fasteners up to but not limited to more or less 20 inches of size adjustment. 